Recovery and mobility device

Abstract

Among other things, in general, a recovery and mobility device for lower leg injuries is disclosed. Such injuries or post-surgery conditions may include knee, foot, calf, ankle, and other below the knee injuries. The device provides support while enabling hands-free ambulation and seated use. A height-adjustable rod assembly—including an outer adjustable rod, an inner slidable rod, and a foot—attaches via a rod holster to transmit ground reaction forces while maintaining the injured limb elevated. In some variations, the device includes a leg support assembly having an upper section with a detachable seat and a lower section with a leg rest, where openings in the seat and leg rest receive straps from the user's post-operative brace to secure the user's thigh and lower leg. In some variations, a detachable weight-bearing housing with one or more spring mechanisms undergirds the upper section to reduce impact loads.

Description

Recovery and Mobility DeviceCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional Application Ser.No. 63 / 772,474, filed March 15, 2025, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Many lower body injuries, be they knee, calf, hamstring, ankle, foot, or other injuries, result in patients who are unable to bear any weight on the impacted leg. For many, it is important to them that they can still be productive, interact, and navigate like they had prior to their injury. People suffering from lower body injuries or postsurgery conditions, such as knee injuries or surgery, face limited and impractical mobility options today.

[0003] Wheelchairs are slow, bulky, unable to access staircases, and challenging to go uphill or in and out of cars. These hindrances make them wheelchairs impractical for safely engaging in daily activities.

[0004] Crutches are a well known approach to providing ambulation during recovery from injury or surgery. However, many patients, athletes, students, and workers are unsatisfied with crutches because they restrict their level of independence and ability to perform hands-on tasks throughout their day. Crutches and wheelchairs make the recovery process unnecessarily challenging. Crutches take away the user's ability to carry their personal belongings and safely climb stairs. Their prolonged use can lead to sore armpits, arm fatigue, and joint strain, and their instability poses a serious safety risk, as they can frequently get caught in the ground or slip. Many people still have to take time off work or school as a result of being unable to engage in physical activity or perform hands-on tasks safely and efficiently on crutches. This is concerning as, for example, moderate to severe knee injuries or surgeries can take 2-6 weeks before the patient can walk again, detrimentally impacting the person's financial situation or school attendance. Future complications may arise for using crutches for this period of time, such as gait abnormalities caused by 60-80% of bodyweight loading on the non-injured leg, and the irregular walking gait associated with crutches. This causes long-term effects on quality of life.

[0005] Hands free crutches exist for assistance with some lower body injuries. However, such devices are only applicable to foot and ankle injuries, are bulky for car storage, and cannot be used in a seated position.

[0006] There remains a need to supply more effective medical implements that will promote recovery while maintaining ambulation in a proper manner that emulates a healthy walking gait and does not impede the user's participation in activities of daily living.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Disclosed herein is a more convenient and flexible recovery alternative to crutches and wheelchairs, a mobility aid device to accommodate people with knee, foot, calf, ankle, and other below the knee injuries.

[0008] Among other things, in general, a recovery and mobility device is disclosed to aid a person with an injured lower body part. The device includes a leg support assembly having an upper section and a lower section. The upper leg support section is of a length suitable to support the person's leg above the knee and below the buttocks and includes one or more leg fasteners adapted to hold the upper leg upon the upper leg support section. The lower leg support section has one or more leg fasteners adapted to hold the person's lower leg upon the lower leg support section in a position providing knee support. The device also optionally includes a detachable weight-bearing housing having one or more spring mechanisms undergirding the upper leg support section at its top and a rod holster configured to accept an outer adjustable rod at its base; a height- adjustable rod assembly having the outer adjustable rod and an inner slidable rod, the outer adjustable rod enclosed within the rod holster at the rod's top, and the inner slidable rod inserted within the adjustable rod; and a foot attached to the bottom of the slidable rod.

[0009] Implementations may include one or more of the following. A top casing with grooves equipped to receive extensions of the upper leg support section rests upon the spring mechanisms, whereby the upper leg support section is undergirded when the extensions are inserted into the grooves of the top casing. The upper leg support section and the lower leg support section are cushioned. The person's leg is injured and held in an elevated position upon the upper leg support section. The person's calf is injured and the calf is held to rest in a fixed position upon the lower leg support section. Theperson's knee is injured and is held to rest in a fixed position upon a cushioned knee area between the upper and lower leg support sections. The person is seated and rests the leg upon the leg support assembly when detached from the weight-bearing housing, rod assembly, and foot.

[0010] Among other things, in general, a kit is disclosed that includes a seat, a leg support assembly, a height-adjustable rod assembly, a foot, a cane top, instructions for constructing a recovery and mobility device, and instructions for constructing a cane. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a device embodiment disclosed herein.

[0012] FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 3 shows the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in an exploded view depicting the detachable rod assembly.

[0014] FIG. 4 shows a person wearing a fully attached embodiment.

[0015] FIG. 5 shows a cane embodiment of a kit disclosed herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Parts Legend

[0017] 1001 Recovery and mobility device

[0018] 1005 Leg support assembly

[0019] 1007 Upper section of the leg support assembly

[0020] 1009 Lower section of the leg support assembly

[0021] 1011, 1012 Openings for leg fasteners, openings for leg straps

[0022] 1017 Weight-bearing rod holster

[0023] 1019 Height-adjustable rod assembly

[0024] 1021 Outer adjustable rod of the rod assembly

[0025] 1023 Inner slidable rod of the rod assembly

[0026] 1025 Foot

[0027] 1027 Seat

[0028] 1029 Seat mounting bracket

[0029] 1031 Leg rest

[0030] 1033 Top of the outer adjustable rod of the rod assembly

[0031] 4003 Leg of a person with lower body injury

[0032] 4004 Upper part of person's post-operative brace

[0033] 4005 Lower part of person's post-operative brace

[0034] 4007 Brace hinge

[0035] Strap for a brace, looped through openings (FIG. 4, solid black)

[0036] 4011 Clasp for a strap

[0037] 5001 Cane handle

[0038] In some embodiments, a recovery and mobility device is described herein that utilizes an innovative peg-leg mechanism supporting the user's injured leg, which drastically reduces the load and redirects it away from the injured site. The injured leg is supported by the device in a comfortable posture, positioned so as to have the injured leg protrude in front of the user's uninjured leg while standing. In some embodiments, the device is used in moderate to severe injuries or post-surgery applications, allowing the user hands-free mobility and high maneuverability, eliminating the discomfort and lifestyle restrictions associated with crutches or wheelchairs. In some embodiments, the device can be applied to knee, foot, and ankle injuries. In some embodiments, the device can be stored compactly by detaching the leg support assembly at the weightbearing housing such that the housing, rod assembly, and foot can be set aside. In some embodiments, the device can be used in a seated position with constant leg support, optionally using only the leg support assembly (i.e., when the weight-bearing housing is detached and the housing, rod assembly, and foot are set aside to improve comfort while seated). In some embodiments, the device can be used while standing or ambulating in a standing position.

[0039] In some embodiments, a recovery and mobility device has a leg support assembly with upper and lower sections but no springs, where the upper section has a seat mounted upon it and both lower and upper sections have openings in the assembly configured to receive straps from a user's brace. The user can loop straps from one or braces through the openings corresponding to the body part being braced so as to allow the user to continue using, e.g., a physician-recommended post-operative knee or leg brace while making use of the recovery and mobility device. This arrangement serves to properly seat the user upon the device as well to secure them to it.

[0040] To better illustrate embodiments of the device, reference is made to the Figures.A recovery and mobility device 1001 (FIG. 1) comprises a leg support assembly 1005 having an upper section 1007 and a lower section 1009. The upper leg support section 1007 receives a seat 1027 upon its top via the seat's mounting bracket 1029, whichslides securely upon the upper leg support section 1007. In some embodiments, the seat 1027 is fastened into place upon the mounting bracket 1029. In some embodiments, the seat 1027 is fully detachable for the comfort of the user when not connected to the rest of the device (e.g., simply using the seat 1027 while sitting) or while attaching an upper leg brace via the brace's straps through the openings 1011. The seat 1027 is of a length and shape suitable to support the person's leg above the knee and below the buttocks and comprises one or more openings 1011 configured to receive a user's brace strap so as hold the upper leg of a person upon the upper leg support section 1007. The lower leg support section 1009 comprises a leg rest 1031 having one or more openings 1012 configured to receive a user's brace strap so as to hold the person lower leg upon the lower leg support section 1009 in a position providing knee support. In some embodiments, the device also comprises a weightbearing rod holster 1017 that is permanently attached to the upper section 1007 of the leg support assembly 1005 and is configured to accept an outer adjustable rod 1021 at its base. A height-adjustable rod assembly 1019 comprises the outer adjustable rod 1021 and an inner slidable rod 1023, the outer adjustable rod 1021 enclosed within the rod holster 1017 at the rod’s top, and the inner slidable rod 1023 inserted within the adjustable rod 1021. A foot 1025 is attached to the bottom of the slidable rod 1023. The height-adjustable rod assembly is detachable from the rod holster. See also FIG. 2 fora rearview. FIG. 3 depicts how the top 1033 of the outer adjustable rod 1021 of the height-adjustable rod assembly 1019 is of smaller diameter than the opening of the rod holster 1017 and can be detached from the rest of the device for, e.g., sitting, when the user wishes to have the seat and leg support but does not require the rod for ambulation. In some embodiments, the rod holster 1017 has a hole of diameter approximately equal to a hole in the top of the outer adjustable rod 1021, enabling the rod holster 1017 to be securely fastened upon the outer adjustable rod 1021 with a Cotter key or other such means.

[0041] In some embodiments, the device uses a spring-loaded arrangement that undergirds and supports the upper leg support section and that portion of the user's weight that bears upon the leg support sections when attached. In some embodiments, a spring-loaded mechanism is used, wherein the device comprises a weight-bearing housing that is detachable from the leg support assembly having one or more spring mechanisms supporting a top casing (to which is attached the upper leg support sectionat its top, thereby undergirding the upper leg support section) and a rod holster configured to accept an outer adjustable rod at its base; the top of the rod is thus attached to the base of the housing within a rod holster to ensure it is firmly attached to the rest of the device and the housing contains one or more spring mechanisms that at the housing's top protrude so as to meet a lip upon the underside of the top casing. In such arrangements the top casing rides upon the one or more spring mechanisms and has grooves on both sides of the top casing, of a depth and width appropriate to firmly accept attachment of the leg support assembly via suitable extensions fashioned upon the underside of the upper leg support section.

[0042] See FIG. 4 for an illustration of how a person with a lower-body injury can place his or her leg 4003 can place his or her leg upon the seat 1027 of the recovery and mobility device and loop their brace top piece 4004 into the seat 1027 via the openings 1011, re-locking the brace straps into their respective clasps 4011; and correspondingly, the brace bottom piece 4005 into the leg rest 1031 via the openings 1012.

[0043] In some embodiments, the upper leg support section and the lower leg support section are cushioned. In some embodiments, the person's leg is injured and held in an elevated position upon the upper leg support section. In some embodiments, the person's calf is injured and the calf is held to rest in a fixed position upon the lower leg support section. In some embodiments, the person's knee is injured and is held to rest in a fixed position upon a cushioned knee area between the upper and lower leg support sections. In some embodiments, the leg support assembly has a hinge between the upper leg support section and the lower leg support section.

[0044] In some embodiments, the height-adjustable rod assembly has detents or holes through its components that allow for securing using a post, Cotter key, or other such securing means, with the result that height can be adjusted to ensure that the device can be attached to the user's injured leg without significantly raising the user's hip out of horizontal relation to their opposite hip. In some embodiments, the support rod is perpendicular to flat ground. In some embodiments, the foot provides balance across its surface area when the device is in mobile use.

[0045] In some embodiments involving a knee injury, the upper and lower leg support sections are angled with respect to each other so as to prevent the user's knee from bending below a comfortable knee rest level. In some embodiments involving an ankle or foot injury, the upper and lower leg support sections act to provide upper leg, knee,and lower leg support while also resting the foot or ankle. In some embodiments involving a calf injury, the lower leg support section prevents the lower leg from bending below a comfortable calf rest level. In some embodiments, cushioning is supplied upon the support sections to reduce the impact force from the ground going into an injured leg region. In some embodiments, the spring mechanism reduces the impact force from the ground going into an injured leg region.

[0046] In some embodiments, a kit is herein disclosed comprising a recovery and mobility device and a cane handle 5001, the cane handle being fashioned so as to fit upon the top of the rod assembly when not attached to the device; by which a user can fashion a cane (see FIG. 5) from the provided materials within the kit.

[0047] Other implementations are possible.

Claims

Claims1. A recovery and mobility device to aid a person with an injured lower body part who is wearing a post-operative brace fastened to a first lower body part with one or more upper straps, the device comprising:a leg support assembly having an upper section and a lower section, the upper leg support section having a detachable seat mounted thereon, wherein the seat has openings configured to receive the one or more upper straps of the post-operative brace;a rod holster mounted upon the bottom of the upper section of the leg support assembly, the rod holster being configured to receive a height-adjustable rod assembly having the outer adjustable rod and an inner slidable rod, the outer adjustable rod enclosed within the rod holster at the rod's top, and the inner slidable rod inserted within the adjustable rod;and a foot attached to the bottom of the slidable rod.

2. The device of claim 1 where the post-operative brace is also fastened to a second lower body part with one or more lower straps, and the lower section of the leg support assembly comprises a leg rest having openings configured to receive the one or more lower straps of the post-operative brace.

3. The device of claim 1 in which the upper leg support section and the lower leg support section are cushioned.

4. The device of claim 1 in which the person's leg is injured and held in an elevated position upon the upper leg support section.

5. The device of claim 1 in which the person's calf is injured and the calf is held to rest in a fixed position upon the lower leg support section.

6. The device of claim 1 in which the person's knee is injured and is held to rest in a fixed position upon a cushioned knee area between the upper and lower leg support sections.

7. The device of claim 1 in which the person is seated and rests the leg upon the leg support assembly when detached from the rod assembly and foot.

8. A kit comprising a seat, a leg support assembly, a height-adjustable rod assembly, a foot, a cane top, instructions for constructing a recovery and mobility device, and instructions for constructing a cane.

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